diff --git a/p2p/host/relay/autorelay.go b/p2p/host/relay/autorelay.go
index 088a477f3ef82fa1e0569650d4b2894f7b8520f3..01451ceb241854e46fb978fabf06daca49c1c5aa 100644
--- a/p2p/host/relay/autorelay.go
+++ b/p2p/host/relay/autorelay.go
@@ -157,6 +157,9 @@ func (h *AutoRelayHost) findRelays(ctx context.Context) {
 		h.relays[pi.ID] = pi
 		h.mx.Unlock()
 
+		// tag the connection as very important
+		h.ConnManager().TagPeer(pi.ID, "relay", 42)
+
 		update++
 		need--
 		if need == 0 {